Railway-switch.



No. 7|4,|42. Patented Nov. 25, 1902.

A. 0. GAMBBIDGE. BAILWY SWITCH. (Application flled Feb. 17, 1902.) (NoModel.) 2 Shees-Shuet l.

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No. 7|4,l42. Pat ented Nov. 25, 1902. A. O. CAMBRIDGE.

RAILWAY SWITCH.

(Application med Feb. 17,' 1902.)

2 Shaun-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES ATENT rrrcn,

ALONZO CARDOZO CAMBRIDGE, OF CHARLESTON,v SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO DIEDRICH SCHRODER, OF CHARLESTON,

SOTTH OAROLINA.

RAlLWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 714,142, datedNovember 25, 1902.

Application filed February 17, 1902. Serial No. 94,371. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it nuty concrn:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo OARDozo CAM- BRIDGE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Charleston, county of Charleston, and State ofSouth Carolina, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements inRail- Way-Switches, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in whichsimilar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The subject of this invention is an improved railway-switch, and has forits principal objects capacity for automatic and accurate operation andsimplicity in the character and arrangement of parts.

With the above and other purposes in view the invention comprisesgenerally a pivoted tongue or switch member appropriately located at thejunction of a branch or turnout and having its opened or closedmovements effected through its engagement with a disk or wheel suitablydepressed in the track-bed and actnated by eccentric connectionscorrespondingly attached to disks or Wheels properly disposed along thetrack or way and capable of being turned by extensions adapted to beoperated by the traveling wheel of a car. These several objects andadvantages are attained by the novel system and arrangement of partsdisclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagramillustrating the application of my invent-ion to a double-trackstreet-railway system having two diverging branches or turnouts.l Fig. 2is a partial Vertical sectional view through one of the switch-tonguesand devices immediately contiguous thereto. Fig. 3 is 'a sectional planview through the devices immediately coperating With the said tongue.Fig. 4 is asectional plan view of one of the devices for automaticallyclosing the switch from a remote point of the track or way. Fig. 5 is aVertical sectional view of the device for opening and closing the switchfrom a remote point in the track or way.

The parallel rails of a straight section of double track are representedby the broken lines designated by A A' in Fig. 1, While the rails of thediverging double-track branches or turnouts are indicated by B B' C C',respectively. The practical mergence of the rails of the straightsection of track with those of the diverging branches is effected U bythe em ployment of the short intermediate and properly-shapedrail-Sections B2 B3 and C2 C3, supplemented by the presence of theswitch -tongues As the arrangement of switch devices for each pair ofstraight rails A A' is substantially the same, a description of one willsuffice for an understanding of the similar arrangement of the otherpair of such rails. At the end of each intermediate rail-section B2 ispivoted the butt of a switchtongue D, extending so that its point d canbe moved against or a short distance away from the conriguous rail A' atthe point where it merges into its companion branch meinber. In a lowerplane immediately beneath the tongue D is a circular box or casing E,Fig. 2, having a central Vertical arbor e, on which are mounted upperand lower horizontal disks E' E2, connected together to turncoincidently. The disk E' has at its upper side near its margin a shortVertical pin e', extending into a recess therefor in the tongue D above.It will be noted that the top face of the upper disk D' occupies a planeslightly above the top of the box, so that the switchtongue can restthereon and be supported thereby. The lower disk E2 is provided on itsupper side with a series of eccentricallylocated studs, three beingshown in Fig. 3, as indicated by 62 83 84. Pivotally connected withthese studs are the ends of horizontal rods F, G, H, I, and J ofconsiderable length and extending through horizontally elongated slots85 in the box to and connected with variously-located devices along thetrack or way, which I will now proceed to describe.

Injuxtaposition to the straight rail A' at a point remote from theswitch is another circular horizontal circular box F', containing acentral arbor f, on which turns a disk F2, having aneccentrically-located upper stud fg, with which the other end of the rodF is pivotally engaged. The Vertical wall of the box F' is horizontallyslotted for the passage of the rod F and also for a short rod F3, eccen-IOO trically pivoted to the disk F2 at another point and extending insuch position relative to the rail A' that a shoe or segment F4, carriedthereby and having a rounded face, will be acted upon by the wheel ofthe car moving on the rail to longitudinally shift said rod F3. Also injuxtaposition to the rail A', but at a point somewhat nearer the switch,is still another circular horizontal box G', containing a rotatable diskG2, with an eccentrically-connected arin G3, also extending in operativerelation to the rail A' and carrying a roundfaced shoe G4 to be actuatedby the car-wheel.

Eccentrically and pivotally connected with the upper side of the disk G2and at a point diametrically opposite the pivotal attachment therewithof the rod G is one end of a short horizontal link G5, which extendsthrough a slot g in the box G' and through an opposite slot g' into thedeeper end portion of a horizontally-extended narrow box G6, where it ishooked to the short depending end of a lever G7, pivotally mountedwithin said deeper portion. As indicated byfull lines in Fig. 5, thelever when in a horizontal position is adapted to rest snugly within thebox G6, the major portion of said lever being contained within theextended shallower portion of the box. The free end of the lever may beprovided with a plate or circular head (12 to provide a greatercontact-surface.

From the description thus far it will be comprehended that with the diskEz below the switch in a position holding its disk E' so that theswitch-tongue is in the open positioni. e., away from the contiguousrail A'-aud with the disk F2 holding the short rod F3 and its shoe in aprojected position relativeto the rail A' the wheel of a car movingalong said rail in the direction of the switch will contact with thesaid shoe and shift the rod F3 to effect a partial rotation of its diskF2 and through the rod F correspondingly tui'n the disks E2 EI to throwthe tongue D to a closed position. The further progress of the car willcause the same Wheel to act on the shoe G4 to turn its disk G2, which onaccount of the diametrical connection of its rod G with the disk E2 willrestore the switch-tongue to the open position. Such turning of the diskG2 will also occasion the link G to be further pushed into the deeperportion of the box G6, so as to swing the lever G7 to the obliqueposition. (lndicated in broken lines, Fig. 5.)

If it is desired that the car is to be switched onto the branch orturnout presented by the rails B B', then an attendant on the car adjnsts a projection suitably located at the back of the rear Wheels of thesame, so that the plate Q2 of the lever Gr7 will be struck by saiddevice on the car and thelever again thrown to a horizontal positionWithin its box, the dimensions of the deeper part of the latter and thelimit of the link movement being such that the lever when elevated willnot be thrown past its Vertical center and also maintaining it whileelevated in such an oblique position as to insure its positive drop whenstruck as described. The descending movement of the lever will, throughthe link connection, effect a reverse turn of the wheel G2 and restorethe switch-tongue to the closed position.

Obviously if it be (lesired that the car pass onto the branch presentedby the rails O O' then the lever Gr7 is not disturbed from its elevatedposition (luring the passage of the car along this point.

Adjacent to the rail B' at a point considerably beyond the locality ofthe switch is another switch-Operating device, in most respects similarto the case G' and its short rod and shoe, but minus a link-connectedpivoted lever and its shallow box.' The disk H2 of this device in thebranch or turnout has the rod H and short rod R3 so connected therewiththat when the car-wheel contacts With the shoe H4 to turn the disk H2the closed switch-tongue D,which permitted the passage of the car ontothis branch, will be again thrown to an open position. Thislast-mentioned arrangement insures that a car immediately behind on thestraight section and which has moved considerably beyond the position ofthe disk G2 will pass properly through the open switch onto the branchpresented by the rails O O' and continue in a direction opposite to thatwhich the car on the other branch travels.

After a car has passed through the open switch and has traveled onto thebranch C O' for a short distance it moves past a switch- Operatingdevice, the wheel I2 and shoe-carrying rod I3 of which are adjusted thesame as the other similar devices for opening the switch. Consequentlyas the switch is open no actuation occurs as the car moves along thatpoint of the rail C' where the disk I2 is located.

Inasmnch as the period between which one car moves onto the branch O O'and another comes along to be diverted to one branch on the other Wouldresult in the lever G7 remaining in its elevated position during suchprolonged interval, presenting an objectionable obstruction, as well asrendering the same liable to accidental contact by Vehicles, &c., Ifurther locate adjacent to the rail C', but at a point more remote fromthe switch, a closing device, com prising a disk J 2 and shoecarryingrod JB, adjusted similar to the corresponding disk F2 and rod F3 of theother switch-closing device. By this arrangement when the car gets Wellupon the branch O O' the disk J2 will be turned to actuate, through themedium of its rod J, the switch-wheel E2, and through the rod connectionof the latter with the disk Gr2 effect the lowering of the lever G7 to aposition within its case.

While I have referred to the disk 12 and its shoe-carrying rod 13 asbeing passive during the movement of the car from the straighttrack-section through the open switch onto the branch O C', it will beobvious that the IOO IIO

device comprising such disk and rod will serve to insure the opening ofthe switch in the event of the movement of the car from t-he branch ontothe straight section.

The various switch opening and closing devices Will be supported upondurable foundations.

By permitting the switch-tongue D to rest upon the top of the disk E thelatter, in addition to its pin engagement with the tongue, will affordasmooth Operating-surface for the same, besides contributing through itsturntable action to throw said tongue.

The improvemeuts are equally applicable to switches for steam railroadand other tracks, it being desirable, however, in such instances thatthe distances between the several devices be suitably increased.

As will be readily appreciated, the switch system and devices formingthe subject of my invention are comparatively simple in construction,accurate and positive in operation, and for the most part automaticallyactuated. They may be ordinarily applied to track systems withcomparatively little labor and expense.

- One of the purposes of each disk F2, with its several connections, isthat in the event' of a car passing from a branch C O' to the mainsection before it absolutely passes beyond the limits of the switchdevices it will actuate a disk'F2 to throw the tongue D to a closedposition to place the track in a through condition with respect to themain section and the branch B B'. i

I (lo not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the particularconstruction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but reservethe right to such modifications and changes as may be fairlywithinmyinvention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a railroad-switch, the combination With the track or Way andbranch or turnout, of a movable switch-tongue at the intersection of thesame, adevicein the track or way for eflecting the movement of thetongue in one direction, and a second device interposed between thatfirst mentioned and the tongue, and adapted to oppositely throw thelatter, both said devices being successively operable by the same car,and provision interposed between the second device and the tongue andindependently operable from a car for efiecting a tongue movemeutcorresponding With that of the first device.

2. In a railroad-switch, the combination with the track or Way andbranch or turnout, of a movable switch-tongue at the intersection of thesame, a device in the track or way for effecting the movement of thetongue in one direction and asecond device interposed between that firstmentioned and the tongue and adapted to oppositely throw the same, bothsaid devices being successively operable by the same car, provisioninterposed between the second device and the tongue and independentlyoperable from a car for effecting a tongue movement corresponding withthat of the first device, and tongue-Operating devices at the other sideof the tongue in both of the relatively dverging track-sections.

3. In a railroad-switch, the combination with a main section of track orWay and its relatively divergi ng branch sections,of a mov- ,ableswitch-tongue at the intersection of the main section and said branches,a horizontal disk beneath and engaged with said tongue to throw the samewhen rotated, horizontal disks in the main section and branches anddifferentially connected with said tonguedisk, each of the disks in themain section and branches, having an eccentrically-connected rodextending in operative relation to the contiguous rail and carrying ashoe adapted to be struck and laterally shifted by a car-wheel.

4. In a ralr'oad-switch, the combination With a main section of a trackor way and its relatively divergent branch sections, of a movableswitch-tongue at the intersection of the main section and said branches,a box or casing, below said tongue and containing a rotating diskeccentrically engaged with the tongue, and rods passing into said boxand having differential eccentric connections with the disk, said rodseXt-ending at different angles conformable to the main and branchsections and connected with actuating devices in operative relation withrespect thereto.

5. In a railroad-switch, the combination with a main section of a trackor way and its relatively divergent branch Sections, of a movableswitch-tongue at the intersection of the main section and said branches,a box or casing below said tongue and containing a 'rotatory disk theupper surface of which is slightly higher than the top of the box orcasing, said disk being eccentrically engaged With the tongue, a seconddisk within the box or casing and revoluble with the first, and rodspassing into said box and having differential eccentric connections withthe second disk, said rods extending at different angles conformable tothe main and branch Sections and connected with actuating, deviceslocated in operative relation thereto.

6. In a railroad-switch, the combination with a movable switch-tongue,of a revoluble ho'rizontal disk havinga rod connection therewith, andprovided with an eccentrically-attached shoe-carrying rod eXtendinghorizontally in transverse operable relation to the rail to be actuatedby the car and operate the connections, revolve the disk and throw thetongue.

7. In a railroad-switch, the combination with a movable switch-tongue,of a revoluble horizontal disk havinga rod connection therewithl andprovided with an eccentrically-attached shoe-carrying rod extendinghorizontally in transverse operable relation to the rail to be actuatedby the car and through IOO IIO

the intermediate devices including the rev'o lution of the disk, closethe tongue, and a tongue-olosing device with connections extendinr tosaid disk and connected with the same to be i'eversely operated When thelatter moves the tongue to a, closed position.

8. In a i'aih'oad-switch, the combination With a movabie switch-tongue,of a, revoiuble' horizontztl disk havinga rodoonnection there- With andprovided with an eoeentrioaliy-attaohed shoe-cai'rying rod extendinghoi'izontally in transverse opei'able relation to' the mil to beaetuated by the car and operate the conneetions, revolve the disk andthx'ow the ALONZO CARDOZO CAMBRIDGE.

Witnesses:

A. A. KROEG, vE. MOSWEENEY.

